Everybody Loves Large Chests

The Mask Falls 3

The mood in the living room of the Morgana household was awkward, to say the least. Not only had Keira and Rowana been denied a late and lazy morning, but they also had an uninvited visitor. Anyone would be annoyed if some huge muscle-bound man in full ceremonial armor dropped in unannounced at their house, but the fact that it was the Hero of the Hammer made it doubly worse. Sigmund Law was the sort of person who seemed to radiate grim determination, and the fact that he was sitting in a flower-patterned armchair didnt diminish that one bit.

Of course, none of that seemed to disturb the residents of this particular household.

Mr. Law, could you please stop bleeding on my furniture? Rowana asked politely.

I apologize, miss, he replied firmly. I dont mean to point fingers, but it wasnt my choice to be greeted with a knife to the face.

Both of them glared at Keira, who was still holding onto the bloodied knife.

In my defense, he looked extremely knife-able.

Sigmund and Rowana shared a sigh. She had a point. The Hero of the Hammer cut a naturally imposing figure, and the redheads tenure as Hero of Chaos had made her notoriously jumpy. It wasnt that Keira was high-strung, she just reacted badly to surprises since most surprises reacted badly to her. Frankly speaking, it was a small miracle that the matter had been settled with just a cut on the cheek. There wouldve been an international incident if things had escalated to a Clash of Fate.

Ahem?

Before the visitor could get to explaining himself, he was offered a fresh cup of tea by someone just outside his field of view.

Oh? Thank you, he replied on reflex as he picked up the cup. Wait, what?

He looked down at the sentient table with a look of utter confusion.

Dont mind him, thats just Tablesworth, Keira reassured him.

Another thing like that animated wooden doll I saw earlier?

Ahem! Tablesworth said indignantly while walking away in a huff.

Dont call them things, please, Rowana chimed in. Theyre house mimics. Though they look like objects, they have minds and hearts of their own.

Now that the elf mentioned that, Sigmund was fairly certain the mannequin had given him the finger before it disappeared into another room, but he decided not to question it.

How many of them are around? he asked warily.

Quite a few, the redhead answered.

Sigmund couldnt help but eye the room warily upon hearing that. Now that he was actively looking for them, he spotted a cookie jar with pincers waddling across a nearby shelf. The butterfly hair clip on the elfs head seemed to be moving around, too. And maybe he was going crazy, but he felt like the crystal dragon statuette in the corner was giving him the stink-eye. Was the carpet in on it, too?

Relax, theyre harmless, Keira reassured him. House mimics are quite literally incapable of harming people. So for real, calm down.

Ah, yes. I apologize, this is just a bit bizarre to me.

The man realized he was starting to get needlessly paranoid.

Also, dont freak out, the redhead smirked, but youre sitting on Sir Seatmeister the Third.

Or perhaps he wasnt paranoid enough.

Keira! Stop teasing our guest! Rowana scolded her. I apologize Mr. Law. She mustve gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today.

Her tone was polite and her words kind, yet Sigmund couldnt help but feel that she had taken a metaphorical jab at him for disturbing them at this early hour.

Yes, well, Sigmund regained his composure, I admit I was a bit inconsiderate. At the very least its good to see you havent lost your edge, Miss Morgana. I know we didnt get much chance to talk the last time we met, so let me just say I personally appreciate your aid during the orc invasions on Velos.

Yeah, yeah. Cut the crap, Sigmund, Keira crossed her arms demandingly. Why are you here?

Alright, Ill get straight to it, the man leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. Its not just me that visited Azurvale. Orrin and Gux are here, too. As is the new Hero of the Sword.

The beastkin raised an eyebrow while Rowana excused herself and left the room upon hearing the h-word. It would appear she anticipated this was a topic she probably didnt want to be directly involved in.

That didnt answer my question, Keira pressed.

I know, and Im getting to that. The thing is, after settling things on Velos, we decided to extend our collective partnership. As Im sure youre quite aware, a Shift is most likely on its way, and we decided that it was our duty to prepare ourselves for whatever it may bring. And we cant do that without the help of the Hero of Chaos.

I think youre barking up the wrong tree, Keira sighed. Hero or not, Im just one person. Im nowhere near significant enough to steer the course of history by myself.

After all, entire civilizations could rise or fall in just a few years during a Shift. Yes, Keira Morgana was a famous adventurer that had certainly left her mark on the world, but to think she alone could influence a Shift was ludicrous. Which wasnt to say that Boxxy T. Morningwood couldnt make an impact, but that was beside the point.

I know, and Im not asking you to, Sigmund stated firmly. We just want your input and opinion on a number of topics that we need to discuss.

Let me get this straight. You and a bunch of other Heroes came all the way to Azurvale for a consultation?

It sounds silly when you put it like that, but thats basically it, yes, he nodded. I would also like to state that it wasnt my idea, but Miss Hilda seemed adamant that your unique experiences and perspective might show us something we missed. She sends her regards, by the way.

Tsk, Keira clicked her tongue. That old bat always makes good points, doesnt she? Whats she been up to, anyway? Havent heard from her in months.

Last I heard, she remained on Velos. Apparently she intends to retire there.

Really? I always imagined shed be eager to challenge the Dragon Festival.

Mmm, yes, well, I do not know her circumstances, but it appears shed rather spend her twilight years slaughtering orcs for sport.

Heh. Just wait until she runs out of booze, shell be back here in no time, Keira chuckled. But, if Miss Hilda thinks I may be of some help, then I suppose Ill at least hear you out.

Thank you. I promise it wont take more than a day. In fact, we can probably get it over with before evening if we leave now.

Alright, give me ten minutes to get ready and well head off.

Sigmund agreed and spent the wait sipping at the tea he was given and trying really hard to ignore the way the chair seemed to shift underneath him. Figuring the combined weight of his body and armor might be hurting the living armchair, he stood and let his eyes wander around the room. He began to feel a bit envious of how cozy and comfortable it was once he got used to the house mimics. Being the head of the Inquisition naturally came with all kinds of perks, one of which was top-tier accommodations. However, it had been an almost unbearably lonely post ever since those triplets left his care.

Speaking of which, Sigmund had already heard through the godly grapevine that Nao had taken over their education. Keira had apparently done her best to teach them self-reliance in the short time they had been together, but had to send them away because of how unstable Azurvale had become in recent months. Though the man didnt know how to feel about that turn of events, he agreed that it was probably for the best. He had a fairly high opinion of the Hero of Magic, having worked with him extensively during the initial Velos incident. Unfortunately, he now had absolutely no idea what his nieces were even up to, or where they actually were.

And since he didnt want to bother his divine patron with what were basically an old mans worries, he decided to bring the topic up with Keira during their walk to the Hero meeting.

So, have you heard anything from the girls? he asked her after they left the house.

You mean Lydia and her sisters?

Yeah.

I assume you know Naos looking after them.

I do, but I have no idea how theyre actually doing. I thought maybe you would know.

Funny you should ask. I actually got a letter from them a few days ago. They probably sent you one too, but Im guessing you missed it.

Ah, I must have. I came here straight from Velos, so itll probably be waiting for me when I get back to headquarters.

Probably, she shrugged.

So? What did it say?

Uh Keira hesitated for a moment. You know how they were supposed to study under Nao?

Yes? Sigmund raised an eyebrow. Is he not teaching them properly?

Oh, hes teaching them a lot of things, Im sure. Especially since theyve done a lot more than just study together.

Whats that supposed to mean?

The look of puzzlement on the mans face made it clear that nothing short of the cold, hard, truth would get through to him, so Keira decided to stop trying to hint at it and just get it over with.

Nao got all three of them pregnant. At once.

Sigmunds eyes blinked a few times as he processed this information.

What? he asked dumbly.

Lydia, Madeline, and Robin are all heavy with Naos children, she repeated herself. And I mean heavy. Apparently all their bellies are already swollen to the point where they can hardly walk. Madeline says shes even expecting twins.

Upon hearing both the confirmation and elaboration, Law tilted his head back and thrust his fists towards the sky.

YYYYEEEEEEEEES! he screamed at the top of his lungs. NOT ME!

Rather than being upset or angry, Sigmund was overjoyed. All things aside, he still thought of the triplets as his own daughters, and had been dreading the thought of having to do unfatherly things with them. He was also quite happy that theyd chosen Nao as their partner. He knew that boy would do right by them, and wasnt one to run from his responsibilities. Speaking of which, though he did approve of the union, he wasnt quite sure how to deal with the moral ramification of one man having three simultaneous partners. He assumed they had probably worked out some kind of arrangement, but nevertheless felt it necessary to personally ascertain the nature of their relationship.

Thankfully Nao and the triplets were still going to show up for Keiras wedding in about two weeks time, or so the redhead claimed during the walk. Sigmund decided to stick around Azurvale until then, but for now focused on the impending meeting. He used a Comm-crystal to inform the other Heroes that they were on the way, then led Keira to one of the most expensive and luxurious hotels in Azurvale. They passed through the lobby and, after having a chat with the receptionist, were escorted to what was either a small banquet hall or a huge meeting room, with the rest of the gods chosen already waiting for them.

Keira! It is good to see you are well! Orrin greeted her with his usual sense of mirth.

Same here, old man, she smiled sweetly at him.

Gux would say hello, the levitating lizardman was next, but his mind is currently visiting his late grandmother.

Uh-huh. Any idea when hell be back?

Shouldnt be more than a few minutes.

And you must be the new Hero of the Sword I was told about, she turned towards the last person in the room.

Standing in the corner was someone wearing the same set of mithril armor that Hesk had used during her final battle against the orc warlord. The equipment had been lovingly cleaned, repaired, and refitted to better suit its new owner. His face wasnt visible, but his build and height alone were enough to determine he was a male raptor. His weapon of choice was an imposing greatsword that was leaning against the wall next to him. Upon being greeted by the beastkin, he pulled himself away from the corner, took a few steps towards her and slammed his fist into his breastplate.

I am Kut of clan Susk, he spoke calmly. It is an honor to finally meet you, Crimson Lotus.

Uh just Keira is fine. Where did you even hear that nickname?

It was carved into the flesh of the orcs that fell by your blade. The blooms of blood left in your wake are truly befitting your moniker, Crimson Lotus.

Please dont make me sound like some kind of violent psychopath, she sighed.

Says the woman that greeted me with a knife to the face, Sigmund crossed his arms.

Wahahaha! Orrin chortled, much to the mans discomfort. Come now, Sigmund. Whats a few cuts between friends?

We are not friends, he and Keira replied in unison, much to the giants continued amusement.

Once everyone had settled down and Guxs mind had returned to reality, the second conference of Heroes finally got underway. First order of business was to catch Keira up on what had happened with Aleister, the Boneshapers rogue lieutenant. She naturally acted quite surprised to learn that Jennifer Jackson, the former Gilded Hand agent known as Zone and the woman who had killed the beastkins mentor, had been the one to land the killing blow. Not to mention her apparent transformation into a winged harpy-like creature, as Sigmund described her.

The reason they had brought that up was because they thought the Hero of Chaos might have some inkling as to how and why such a transformation happened.

Why are you asking me? she said defensively.

Because your mithril companion is the only other such case we know of, Orrin informed her. We thought her condition might provide some insight as to-

Weve been over this already, the beastkin cut him off. Fizzy is the way she is because of a cursed Artifact. She may have found some joy and meaning in it since then, but it wasnt exactly her choice to become a lump of unfeeling metal.

Perhaps not, though there are those of us who are willing to undergo the change should they be given the option.

The giants uncharacteristically grim words hung in the ensuing silence for several seconds.

I see. You need people like Fizzy to reclaim your homeland.

Sharp as ever, arent you, miss Keira? the Hero of the Sun smiled weakly.

The main thing that kept the living from taking back the continent of Percepeia wasnt the undead. Though the legions of the damned were a force to be reckoned with, it was the constant miasma of Blight blanketing the landmass that was the biggest hurdle. Even if there were people capable of surviving the intensely diseased air of the Blighted Lands, their food would rot and their water would be fouled. Not to mention that the plague would sap the strength of the living even if it failed to rob them of their life.

However, golems needed neither sustenance nor rest, and were practically immune to all but a select few magical diseases. Combined with her zealous faith and developed Paladin Job, Fizzy seemed to be the only viable candidate to mount a campaign against the Boneshaper. The issue there was that a one-golem crusade was statistically improbable to succeed. No matter how mighty the former gnome was, there was only so much she could do by herself before the Boneshapers hordes overwhelmed her.

But, if there was an entire army of people with Fizzys inorganic constitution, then wiping out the undead presence on Percepeia would no longer be an impossible dream. Purifying the landmass of Blight was also accomplishable with the help of the totems that the Empire used to finally clean up the aftermath of the Calamity of Monotal. Magic items that had only been made available because Fizzy had convinced the remnants of the subterranean civilization that created them to reconnect with the surface world.

In a way, that radiant construct had single handedly provided Orrin and his people with the tools necessary to restore their ancestral homeland to its former splendour. Her very existence was almost like some kind of divine providence as far as the Hero of the Sun was concerned. The man was perhaps grasping at straws, but he and his followers were clearly desperate. In their minds, if they could attain the power to defeat that ultimate evil, then sacrificing their enlightened nature was a small price to pay.

Sorry, thats not going to happen, Keira spoke coldly. Im not going to pretend like I dont get it. Really, I do. Extreme circumstances call for extreme measures. For what its worth, I think it takes a lot of courage to go that far for what you believe in. I would help you if it was in my ability to do so, but it isnt.

This, of course, wasnt quite true. In fact, the golem eggs that Boxxy had plundered during its recent underwater adventure were exactly what Orrin was looking for. The shapeshifter had quite a few of them tucked away in a corner of its hoard right at that very moment. A single one of the spherical devices could, in theory, be used to create an army of war golems, and Boxxy would happily hand one over to the Hero of the Sun. For an exorbitant price, of course. The price of salvation was far more negotiable than most people cared to admit, but this was neither the time nor the place to be having that kind of discussion.

However, it is possible Mr. Sandman might be able to help you out, Keira helpfully offered. Obscure curses and relics are one of the things he deals in. If youre willing to meet with him, then I might be able to arrange a face-to-face.

I see, Orrin replied solemnly. I do not know who this Sandman is, but I would be grateful for the opportunity.

Sigmund, on the other hand, was well aware of the masked mercenarys reputation. He clearly had some reservations about this, but it wasnt his place to judge another for the methods they employed to carry out their gods will. Not after all the lives the Inquisition had ruined during their forceful removal of the Empires corrupted nobles. Kut and Gux also remained silent, albeit for their own reasons.

With that matter settled, the conference moved onto less potentially heretical topics. The visiting Heroes brought up what kind of turmoil the Shift could bring. None of the discussed scenarios were end-of-the-world situations, but were still potentially devastating on a nationwide scale. For instance, if Emperor Joseph Frederick von Einhart the Third were to be assassinated before he could sire an heir. Or if a new elder dragon emerged from the Shattered Isles and decided to take up residence on Terrania.

After presenting these hypothetical crises, the Heroes would then speculate on what would need to happen to minimize the loss of life should any of them occur. Keira then helpfully pointed out the various ways that their plans could fail and make things worse. It seemed mean-spirited at a glance, but this sort of brutal feedback was exactly what the others wanted to hear from her. A plan was, in essence, a list of things that could go wrong. And if anyone would be able to anticipate the myriad of freaky and nonsensical ways in which reality could fuck people over, it was the Hero of Chaos.

The hours went by as ideas were thrown around the room. Passions flared, arguments were had, and at one point the new Hero of the Sword took a swing at Sigmund after the latter spoke harshly of the Eight Tribes traditions. The young raptor apologized immediately afterwards, though. Kut had only been a Hero for about a month, and had accompanied the others because he felt the need to repay them for the aid they had given his people. Allowing his temper to get the better of him over mere words showed that he was still immature. Sigmund forgave him, of course. The man knew just how abrasive he could be since he always spoke truthfully without attempting to dress up his words.

As the day and the meeting drew to a close, everyone was left with plenty to think about and take home to their respective homelands. This had ultimately been nothing more than a glorified brainstorming session, and convincing the rest of the world to heed their warnings would be a huge challenge in and of itself. One that Keira had stated she wanted no part in. True, she had some influence with the FIB and the Republic government, but she was ultimately nothing more than a teenage girl with a talent for getting into trouble. Her official stance on the matter of the Shift was that she would do only what she was capable of - protecting herself and her loved ones. It sounded selfish, yes, but it was a realistic and down-to-earth aspiration that the other Heroes could not, in good conscience, fault her for.

Hey, Gux, can I borrow you for a minute? Keira asked once the Hero conference was over. Ive a personal issue I was hoping you could help me with.

Of course, Daughter of Discord, he agreed readily. What troubles you?

Ive been having these blank spots in my memory. Like I have no idea where I was or what I was doing for hours at a time. Youre a Level 100 Psionic, do you know what could cause this sort of thing? Like, a curse, or some Spell, or something else?

Hmm a faulty mind is a difficult thing to diagnose with words alone. Would you be willing to let Gux take a closer look at it?

Absolutely not. No offense, but I dont trust anyone to poke at my brain with magic. You just might make it worse.

Your caution is understandable. Unfortunate, but understandable. Still, Gux does know of many things that can cause gaps in ones memory. Possession by a malicious entity, for instance.

Thats not it, the beastkin shook her head. My girlfriend would notice if Im acting weird and call me out on it. Same with the guys at the guild and our neighbors.

Admittedly every single thing Keira did could be classified as weird, but neither she nor the old lizard were in the mood to argue semantics.

Gux was merely giving an extreme example. In truth, he doubts you can be so easily taken over. A spirit forged in strife is difficult to conquer, and yours is likely hardier than most.

Uh thanks, I guess. Then whats a more likely cause?

The old lizard went silent and idly scratched his jaw as he pondered the matter. He asked several questions regarding the catgirls circumstances or her symptoms, but spent most of the next few minutes in a contemplative silence.

There are too many unknowns for Gux to unravel this mystery, he declared after a while. The most prudent course of action would be to undo the damage that was done. Restore the lost memories, and the truth of the matter will surely reveal itself.

Yeah, why didnt I think of that, the redhead rolled her eyes, then realized something. Now, wait. Why didnt I think of that?

What is obvious can easily become obscured by ones perspective, Gux sagely said. It is the same reason the Heroes sought your advice regarding their own troubles.

I suppose so, she shrugged. Anyway, I guess I need to go figure out how I can cure my partial amnesia without having someone brain-rape me.

Alchemy seemed like an obvious alternative to invasive mind magic, but it wasnt the only one.

An interesting turn of phrase, but Gux might be able to help with that, the old lizard declared. He heard some of the clever little gnomes to the east have developed a technique called electroshock therapy. Though Gux does not know the details, it is likely your chromatic companion would be familiar with it.

Huh. Now that you mention it, I think Fizzy may have referenced it once or twice, the redhead cupped her chin in thought. I suppose it couldnt hurt to ask. Thanks again, Gux.

You are most welcome, Daughter of Discord, he bowed his head. Gux will remain in Azurvale for four more days, should you require further aid.

Keira left the meeting room and then the hotel. It was already dark out, and way past the time she was supposed to be home, but there were more important things afoot than Rowanas inevitable complaints regarding her future wifes punctuality. Not to mention that, since Fizzy didnt need sleep or food, her workshop was technically always open. With that in mind, the beastkin strode off into the night and made a beeline for the mechanized mechanics overhauled warehouse.

Once there, she greeted Pluss remote-controlled mithril doll at the front, got ahold of Fizzy, and explained her reason for being there.

I dunno, that seems rather extreme, the golem sounded skeptical.

Can it work, though? the redhead pressed her.

I mean, theoretically, yes. The study I read on electroshock therapy said that subjecting a brain to electrical fields of certain intensity over specific periods of time can alter the way it works. Thereve been reported cases where it has helped meatbags deal with dementia, paranoia, and a bunch of other stuff.

Theres a catch, isnt there?

Yeah. There is. Everybody seems to react differently to it, and in its current state, the therapy is ineffective on most test subjects. Its also more likely to cause memory problems than solve them.

So? How much worse can my blank spots get?

Those words werent a dismissive statement along the lines of Whats the worst that could happen? It was a genuine question filled with concern, and not one that Fizzy had an answer for. Boxxy had already informed her of the full extent of its current condition, but she wasnt exactly an expert on the subject of electroshock therapy. The only reason she followed its development was because she thought it would be useful to her as an Arclight Artificer. And it had been, seeing as that knowledge had helped her construct the HERPES meant to control Boxxys hylt nectar addiction.

Whether that particular device had done more harm than good was another topic entirely.

Honestly, there is no way of knowing without actually trying, was Fizzys answer. And I really dont want to put that kind of current right into your brain. Forget aggravating your memory problems, I might just straight up kill you.

You wont, Keira said with utmost confidence. Youre the most brilliant Artificer that has ever lived, and I will never hesitate to put my life in your hands.

The golems magical core skipped a few ticks when she heard that.

W-well, she turned away awkwardly. If youre willing to trust me that much, then I suppose the least I can do is live up to it.

Thanks, Fizzy. I knew youd understand.

As if anyone else could. Now sit tight while I get everything ready.

The golem immediately started rummaging through her shelves and cupboards, gathering the necessary materials and parts.

Wait, were starting right now? her patient asked.

Well, yeah, she replied without looking back. Electroshock therapy isnt a one-time thing. Itll take weeks of constant sessions before the treatment starts to show any lasting effects and we dont have a lot of time. You wont exactly be in a position to get your brain zapped on the daily half a month from now, so youd probably want to know if it works or not before then.

Oh. Yeah, thats a good point.

It only took fifteen minutes for Fizzy to reconfigure the HERPES so that it could be used for the experiment. It might have failed to fulfil its original purpose, but it had still provided the golem with plenty of information regarding Boxxys electricity tolerance levels. It was how she knew the shapeshifters catgirl Facade would come undone as soon as the session started. Fizzy had been told that some nosy investigator had been buzzing around Keira lately, and the way Boxxy remained in-character implied it wanted to be extra cautious about its secret being exposed.

Hence why, once Fizzy was done fine-tuning her invention, she led the doppelganger into the new bunker shed installed beneath her workshop. She had decided she needed a sturdier and more secure testing facility ever since Boxxys first corruption-fuelled rampage trashed the old one months ago. She felt confident this new place could contain a MOAB detonation without anyone on the outside noticing, though she hadnt been stupid enough to put that boast to the test. Still, it would prove more than adequate to completely obscure what was about to happen from all prying eyes. Well, so long as they werent a gods.

It took several more minutes to finish setting up the electroshock therapy. Fizzy used her magnetic abilities to bend some steel plating into a high-back chair and strapped the catgirl-shaped doppelganger into it. She then attached the tweaked HERPES to its cranium and spine. It let out a mild grunt of pain as the device dug into its flesh and clamped onto its bones, but this was nothing new. Once everything was in place and Fizzy made doubly sure that the device was physically incapable of producing enough power to shock Boxxy to death, she was ready.

Okay, Im going to start the session, now, she said. Im going to administer ten shocks, each will last four seconds and there will be a gap of two seconds between them. Itll hurt like your brain is on fire, but you need to endure it for the full minute.

It wasnt exactly textbook procedure, but Fizzy was quite confident that there was no such thing as a book titled Electroshock Therapy for Amnesiac Doppelgangers.

Ill manage, the redhead nodded. Do it.

Having gotten the confirmation she needed, Fizzy flipped the switch. The shapeshifters entire body started convulsing. It flailed against its restraints until the pulse stopped, but wasnt given the chance to recuperate before the next one started. As the agonizingly slow minute progressed, the catgirls dusky smooth skin began to revert to a hylt creepers gray hide, just like Fizzy knew it would. Boxxys true form didnt emerge all at once, but slowly bubbled to the surface like splotches of ink being splattered across a piece of paper.

When the session was over, most of its left side had been left exposed for what it truly was. The shapeshifter was left panting and gasping for air, bits of it smoldering from the intense current, but its monstrous HP was far from empty. Fizzy unbuckled its restraints while it was still dizzy, and waited until it had recovered from its stunned condition before she spoke to it.

Well, Boxxy? she asked expectantly. How do you feel?

The creature looked at her, its face split right down the middle between beastkin and doppelganger, but nevertheless gripped by confusion.

Boxxy? it spoke, its voice a twisted and garbled version of Keiras. Why did you call me that?

Uh Why wouldnt I?

Because, thats not- Wait, whats wrong with my voice?

It then looked down at the rest of itself, and an expression of pure terror washed over the Keira side of its face.

Whats wrong with my arm?! And my leg?! What the fucks going on?!

And then, in a screeching tone that only the most vicious of monsters could produce, the left half of Boxxy replied to its right half.

Thats what I want to know!

It was at that moment that everyone in the room instantly understood the root cause of the shapeshifters recent troubles.

The mask known as Keira Morgana had developed a will of her own.

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